2012 Autobild 50 Tire Braking Test

Overall test winnerNokian Z G2

In probably the largest tire test of its type, the German magazine Auto Bild have tested 50 leading tires in both dry and wet braking.

Data analyzed and reviewed byJonathan Benson

March 8, 2012 17 min read Updated January 8, 2025

In probably the largest tire test of its type, the German magazine Auto Bild have tested 50 leading tires in both dry and wet braking.

Designed to allow Autobild to take the best 15 tires through to their 2012 max performance summer tire test, the entire table makes for a very interesting overview of the tire market.

Highlighting the difference in 225/45 R17 tires, the best tire (Nokian Z G2) stopped in just 144 feet in the wet from 62mph, while the worst tire on test, the Rockstone F105, required nearly 92 feet further to stop at 235 feet! The Nokians wet braking distance was only a little longer than the worse dry braking score, at 138 feet for the Runway.

There were no real surprises in the top 15, other than Nexen beating brands such as Falken, Yokohama and Toyo, and a disappointing result for both Vredestein and Avon, in 22nd and 33rd respectively.

Unsurprisingly the table was rounded out exclusively by tires from the far east, again showing at the budget end of the market you really do get what you pay for.

The Results

(total braking distance listed, the lower the better)

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.2
Wet	44

Total: 79.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.4
Wet	44.1

Total: 79.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.4
Wet	44.4

Total: 79.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.3
Wet	43.7

Total: 80

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	35.1
Wet	45.3

Total: 80.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.8
Wet	43.7

Total: 80.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.5
Wet	44.6

Total: 81.1

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.5
Wet	45.4

Total: 81.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.8
Wet	46

Total: 82.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.2
Wet	45.6

Total: 82.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37
Wet	46.1

Total: 83.1

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.2
Wet	46.1

Total: 83.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.9
Wet	46.8

Total: 83.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.5
Wet	46.3

Total: 83.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.9
Wet	46.9

Total: 84.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	36.8
Wet	48.9

Total: 85.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.1
Wet	47.6

Total: 85.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.2
Wet	48.5

Total: 85.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.4
Wet	47.4

Total: 85.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.1
Wet	49.4

Total: 86.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.2
Wet	49.5

Total: 86.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.4
Wet	48.4

Total: 86.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.8
Wet	49

Total: 86.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38
Wet	49.4

Total: 87.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.1
Wet	49.4

Total: 87.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.8
Wet	49.4

Total: 88.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.7
Wet	50.9

Total: 88.6

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	40.2
Wet	48.5

Total: 88.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.1
Wet	50.7

Total: 88.8

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.5
Wet	50.9

Total: 89.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38
Wet	51.5

Total: 89.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.5
Wet	51.8

Total: 90.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.6
Wet	51.1

Total: 90.7

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	38.9
Wet	52.3

Total: 91.2

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	37.8
Wet	54.2

Total: 92

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.9
Wet	55.4

Total: 95.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	40.5
Wet	56

Total: 96.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	42
Wet	56

Total: 98

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.7
Wet	58.6

Total: 98.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.1
Wet	60.5

Total: 99.6

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.1
Wet	61.8

Total: 100.9

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	41.3
Wet	61

Total: 102.3

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	39.6
Wet	62.9

Total: 102.5

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	41.3
Wet	63.1

Total: 104.4

All discipline results (2)

Test	Result
Dry	41.7
Wet	71.7

Total: 113.4

5 tires not in our database featured in the 50.
34: Pneumant Tritec Sport: 39.7 / 168ft
37: Westlake SA05: Same as Goodride SA05 in 38th
43: Autoguard SA802: 40.8 / 60.1
47: BCT S800: 39.9 / 62.6
49: Rapid P609: 41 / 66.1

Discussion

6 comments

Tellthemthetruth. Aug 27, 2015 archived

Yes very disappointed in the Michelin. I changed my Continentals for M's
Big mistake..

#1492
Peter May 3, 2012 archived

Michelin outside the top 10. I thought they are meant to be good in the wet. What a waste of money.

#601
1. ??? Peter Jul 12, 2012 archived
  
  Primacy is an older model.. I wish they would have used Pilot Sport 3.
  
  #651
2. SixDegrees Peter Aug 20, 2012 archived
  
  Michelin not very good, too expensive. Had them as stock on a number of new cars (VW, BMW, etc). I have changed them up way before they were low on tread as they just don't stack up. Much prefer Goodyear and Hankook, way better than Mich's in every respect.... supports the view they're not in the top 10 IMO.
  
  #665
Kalpakis Sakis Apr 4, 2012 archived

BRILLANTIS 2 BARUM IN 225/45R17 IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#560
1. TireReviews Kalpakis Sakis Apr 4, 2012 archived
  
  You can find the slightly better rated Fulda Sport Control for a similar price to the Barum in plenty of places! Eg:
  http://lovetires.com/tire/F...
  
  #561

Tire	Nokian Z G2	Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2	Hankook Ventus S1 evo2	Dunlop SportMaxx RT	Pirelli CINTURATO P7	Continental Sport Contact 5	Uniroyal RainSport 2	Bridgestone Potenza S001	BFGoodrich g Force Profiler	Fulda SportControl	Nexen N8000	Barum Brillantis 2	Toyo Proxes T1 Sport	Michelin Primacy 3	Kumho Ecsta KU39	Marangoni Mythos	GT Radial Champiro HPX	Meteor HP Sport	Sava intensa uhp	Firestone Firehawk SZ90	Semperit Speed Life	Kleber HYDRAXER	Matador MP 46 Hectorra 2	Falken FK453	Yokohama ADVAN Sport	Vredestein Ultrac Cento	Maxxis MA Z1 Victra	Achilles ATR Sport	Nexen N3000	Riken Maystorm 2 B 2	Cooper Zeon CS6	Avon ZV5	Kormoran Gamma B2	Syron Race 1	Goodride SA05	Marshal Matrac FX MU11	Runway ENDURO 916 Plus	Kenda KAISER KR20	Linglong L688	Zeetex HP102	Wanli S1063	Infinity INF 05	Sunny SN3800	Rockstone Radial F105
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